PLEASE MEET JT:
With encampment sweeps up this year I did some research to understand why. I searched city websites and policy pages. Not much on the effectiveness of sweeps. In fact, the city makes scant reference to its encampment “removals”. A statement by the mayor clarifies: “We must be accountable to Seattle taxpayers about the investments we are making, what is working, and where we need to innovate.”
Meanwhile, across the tracks, tangled in the trees and nestled in the nooks. Between the bushes, beneath the bridges, the downtrodden and displaced simply seek peace and dignity. Tolerating winter, rejection, exposure and sweeps over bureaucracy, bed bugs and bullies at the crowded shelters. There’s social wreckage and souls. Gregory, Bear, Leah, Jamie, Cheryl, Blandy, Sean, Chris, Mike, Van, and JT. In a nearby clearing a disturbed woman disrobes in the cold. Clutching soap and a rag.
There’s a neatly organized collection of bike frames and parts. We’d not seen JT since the Georgetown sweeps last winter. He crawled from his tent on painful knees. He looked up. He looked older. “The DOT was here yesterday. But we haven’t been tagged yet.” His eyes weary. His smile gentle.” JT builds bikes. “I give them to people who need them. I’ve never sold one.” There’s a partially assembled frame clamped to a work stand. “This one here’s coming along.” He points to another. “This one’s my baby. It took months to assemble.”
JT was a diesel mechanic for 30 years. A gentle man who speaks Cummins and Massey Fergusson. Compression ratios and compassion. Happily married to his wife whom he loved, they raised 3 sons in a home they owned. He was a scout leader for many years. His oldest son was an Eagle Scout. “The boys loved fishing, camping, and dirt bikes. We fished and camped everywhere. Lakes, streams, the ocean.”
JT moves slowly now. It’s been two years since his second struggle with prostate cancer. Surviving chemo and radiation treatments, it was his third brush with death. “I’m ok 11 months of the year.” He looks away sadly, his voice cracks. “But December is hard for me. I don’t like Christmas anymore. I don’t understand why He took them and not me.” On Christmas day 2012 JT’s family was struck by a drunk driver killing his wife of 25 years and twin 15 year old boys.
Back at the clearing the woman finishes her sponge bath and dresses. A passing hungry man asks for food. Near the tracks a white DOT pickup arrives. A man with a clipboard gets out.
Gerogetown neighborhood | Damian
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
spiritualJOURNEY
PLEASE MEET TEX
It had rained hard and Tex's tennis-shoes were sopping wet. He was kicking garbage and personal belongings into a big pile, stuff left behind after another Seattle sweep.
I introduced myself and asked how he was doing. He looked at me, smiled, and said, "Hello Rex, I'm Tex." And then immediately recited a paragraph from the bible explaining the lesson he was learning.
Tex kicked a plastic bottle twenty or so feet right into the middle of the pile and I asked if he had played soccer. He said, "No, why?" Then shared more about the word of God.
We walked side by side kicking garbage towards the pile, quietly exchanging thoughts about life. He had spent time in prison and the rest roaming the country. He was on a journey.
When we had the entire area cleaned Tex looked at me and said, "Well, really nice meeting you. Tomorrow or the next day the city will come with a truck, pick the pile up, and get credit for cleaning the entire place. That's just the way it is."
We both paused. He took off the necklace he was wearing, which had several wood beads and a carved monkey claw, and gave it to me, saying, "Here, this is for you."
SODO neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness
powerWITHIN
PLEASE MEET STEPHANIE:
Two months ago Stephanie's life was literally flipped upside down when she was hit by a car that didn't see her in a crosswalk. She shattered her knee and tore ligaments in her collar bone. She actually tried to get up and walk away hoping she was alright.
After five days in the hospital she was wheeled outside in the cold and they pretty much wished her luck. Stephanie considers it very lucky she was able to get in touch with her friend or as she said, "I would still be outside of the hospital in a wheelchair today."
Her friend let her stay with her in her tent next to the freeway. In order to get to the tent, she had to scale a wall, and she was (and is currently) in a wheelchair. Stephanie needed help, this was no place to heal.
Debbie and Damien caught wind of the situation and quickly helped her get into a tiny house in the Nickelsville Othello Village with the help of Richard at Union Gospel Mission and REACH.
She has made her tiny space very cozy and organized. She said she's always kept her places neat and comfy, even when she was living in a tent. She is very grateful to be there in a bed and with a heater!
Stephanie told me she has two kids. "I used to have a house, a job as a real estate agent, a husband, and a dog and a cat, the whole thing." Once her husband left her, the drinking took over and she lost it all. I asked her if she still drinks and she was beautifully honest "I'm healing now, one thing at a time."
She didn't want to be photographed in her wheelchair because she will "be out of this thing soon." So she carefully hopped to be in the photo.
Stephanie is bright, sweet, beautiful, honest, REAL, and she wants to better her life. I know you can do it girl, you already are.
Nickelsville Othello Village | Dawndra
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
mommaJYPSY
PLEASE MEET JYPSY:
Some call her the foundation of her tribe. “God gave me the special gift of understanding my people and their needs.” Her voice is gravelly. Her message solid. “She’s our cornerstone. She’s the mortar that binds us together,” her people say. Indeed, Jypsy is well pegged with parlance from the masonry industry. She is a rock. A pillar. Her spirit immovable. Her integrity a slab of concrete.
Under a dirty bridge in Seattle I met Jypsy 3 years ago. It was a dark place. Near a cement factory. An encampment tangled with tents and troubled souls. Jypsy’s people. Bordered by a railroad spur and indifference. Switch engines basted powerful horns, rolling slowly only feet away. Disturbing. Shaking the ground. Shaking guts and conscience. I passed a smoky fire. In the darkness a woman roasted meat chunks skewered on a long knife. I was startled and kept walking the mud path. On to Jypsy’s tent. Her presence contrasted. Like sunlight splashing on graffiti. Her wit and humor soothed above the industrial noise. Like pebbles rolling under a stream. “I’m Jypsy.” she said. I shook her strong hand, “I know, I’ve heard of you.”
They call her Momma. Jypsy is a leader and a mother to her band of souls living in poverty. These days her health is poor, but she is cared for by her people. She carries portable oxygen and struggles to breath. She coughs. Her respiratory system challenged further by her frequent laughter.
Jypsy speaks of her influences. Her grandmother was loving and kind. Her mother destructive and mean. “She beat me. But I had the insight to recognize the sorrow and confusion that tore her from within. I love her and forgive her.” Jypsy was abducted at age 9. She was drugged and sexually abused. She feels anxiety still. I asked how she remains positive. “We’re all taken care of. In God’s hands we will be fine. We start with this each day, and our problems are minor. “ Jypsy speaks of accountability. Acceptance. Love. Her eyes are warm, but sometimes fierce. Her laughter punctuated with fat tears.
Jypsy’s life is a spiritual journey. “I’m not perfect. I often wonder what the F I’m doing.” I ask her what we should know. “We must not be subservient to ourselves. We must be accepting of others. We must be accepting of all. We must never be bound to our own.”
As I departed a train blocked my path trapping me near the woman by the fire. She pointed her knife at me, offering me the piece of meat on the tip.
SODO Neighborhood | Damian
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness
happyBIRTHDAY
PLEASE MEET JAMES:
Many of you know James from his over 20 years at the Montlake 520 exit off-ramp, asking for help with outstretched cupped hands and a rocking forward motion.
James has been homeless since his teens. He's illiterate. He survives day to day by donations from kind folks at the traffic light. At night he lives under the concrete exit ramp.
Many people are afraid of James. His appearance and mannerisms can have you looking the other way, reaching to adjust something on the dashboard or arranging stuff in the passenger seat while waiting for the light to change.
James is a beautiful person that is simply trying to survive. While many turn away, there are also many who reach out to James with kindness and solutions. Like Blair Jordan who is trying to get him into housing right now. It is difficult, homelessness is all James knows.
On January 7th James turns 54 years old. For the last five years we have been asking folks to send love and support in the form of Birthday Cards on his birthday, wowWOW!!
Usually James gets around 50 or so cards. One year he received 101, it was a big deal for him. We take the time to read each card out-loud with the process beginning by announcing where it is from. Makes me smile to remember how big he smiles when it comes from far away, like from out of state or even out of country!!!
Please mail James a Birthday Card telling him how beautiful he is, telling him how much you care about him. If you want to include a $5 bill, it will make him smile even more!
Mail cards to: Facing Homelessness c/o James 4001 9th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105. Best to send early so we can visit him with them all on his actual BIRTHDAY!!!!
Heartfelt LOVE to all those that give James kindness day to day throughout the year. We are all one. :)
Montlake neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello
keepSMILING
PLEASE MEET JOHN:
John Steel is a very friendly and interesting man with a very interesting name. I told him it was a name destined for fame.
John told me how much he loves living in Seattle. He wants to write a book about the historic buildings and also his favorite sidewalks in Pioneer Square. He said he wants to make the book from his perspective, hanging out with his friends on the street. He is very excited to write about his favorite sidewalks which is a really cool idea.
I told him he might want to keep a journal and carry a camera. He said that the Nikon he wants is at Target for 145 bucks, so, someday. He said he will start taking pictures and writing soon. He told me he is currently actively looking for work.
John is currently staying at the Union Gospel Mission. He told me two amazing things happened yesterday, he met me (awww shucks) and Russell Wilson made an appearance at Union Gospel. "What a great day, keep smiling"
His goal is to have enough material to be published in one year.
Pioneer Square neighborhood | Dawndra
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello
negativeSPACE
PLEASE MEET AUNTIE:
What happens when all the in-between left over undeveloped wiggle room spaces are gone in this city? Before we finish making Seattle all beautiful new, seems like we should build affordable housing for everyone first.
After the City of Seattle sweep took place on Occidental South, where three blocks of vehicles and tents were cleared, this is where Auntie and her dog Baxter ended up. Up against an abandoned building.
She's a woman in her 60's sleeping on the pavement without protection from the elements. Everybody okay with sweeps?
She's been there for two days with no sleeping bag or tent, just a blanket and a couple of coats. I asked what if it rains? She smiled at me for a moment and said, "I'll be alright."
After she finished the breakfast sandwich and coffee I brought, and after I agreed to come back with a pack of Camel 100s, which was a new experience having never bought cigarettes before, I thought to myself, I know she said she's alright, but the honest truth is, I'm not.
It comes in waves. Right now I'm not okay with this situation. Sorry for the rant. I'm not pointing fingers, none of us are individually to blame, but somehow, here we are.
I've come to be good friends with Auntie. Here is the problem with friendship. You begin to care. When you live in a city, no, in a country with a broken relationship to those in need, it places a heavy burden on the individual reaching out. It kills connections that are vital to a healthy community. It begins with guilt and turns to frustration. And ultimately, it has all of us turning away, walking past, making up excuses like, 'The homeless choose to be homeless', or 'They deserve it.'
We need to get more creative and compassionate than sweeping people. We need to work to fix the system that separates us and we need to keep reaching out to 'Just Say Hello' no matter how difficult it can be. We need to do this for those living outside and we need to do it for ourselves.
I love you Auntie, you are all BEAUTIFUL my friend.
Atlantic neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness
payingATTENTION
PLEASE MEET JEAN:
Out of mind but not sight. The corner of Rainier and Dearborn. Any corner. On any street- another soul, another sign. Another sign of the times. She’s there. Pulling at our peripheral vision. But we focus ahead. At a red light. Then she’s gone. Like a lamp post. Or a fire hydrant. When we don’t pay attention.
Jean’s feet hurt. Another full day on the pavement. She’s tired. Normally all smiles, today she worries about her partner. His aggressive brain cancer is approaching advanced stages. “I’m living a nightmare. He’s not the same. He gets confused. He’s verbally abusive sometimes. He leaves and I don’t know where he goes. I’m worried.” There’s tears. But soon enough, smiles and more conversation. Jean smiles a lot.
Jean grew up in Seattle on Capital Hill. Raised in a family with a house and parents. She attended St Joseph Catholic School and Holy Names Academy, an all girls private school. She loved it. And the nuns taught her well. To pay attention. She got caught smoking cigarettes once. But the nuns liked her too much to punish her. Her father ran a janitorial business where she eventually worked. But a few years back some things went wrong. Jean lost her job and Jim became sick. They have had trouble staying sheltered. They’ve lived in motels and rental spaces. Always struggling anymore. “I’ve lived very comfortably most of my life. I’m not used to living this way. It’s scary and unnerving.”
Currently Jean and Jim are holding on to their small room, but barely. Jean is overwhelmed with financial pressures, doctor logistics and other problems related to Jim’s illness. She is entirely focused on supporting Jim in what will likely be his final days. Jim has been a good partner to Jean. Jean is there for him 200%.
Jean loves interacting. A regular passer-by honks and waves. “Most people are friendly. When they aren’t I just blow them a raspberry.” Jean provides a loud audio example, which got my attention.
What would she like most? “Some peace and quiet. Some time to deal with my own thoughts.” When asked what she wants other people to know, she said, “Don’t sneer. Don’t just drive by. Stop and listen. Pay attention. Pay attention.”
If you are in the neighborhood, consider paying a little attention to Jean. You won’t regret it. Maybe Just Say Hello. There is easy parking off Dearborn. Jean also needs sturdy shoes, maybe even light boots with good internal support, size 8.5. Warm socks, and size 12 petite stretchy pants. If you can help, please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Jean, 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105.
Judkins Park Neighborhood | Damian
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness
beautifulLOVE
PLEASE MEET BECCA:
Up until two years ago Becca was living in a tent. She lived on the streets from 2007-2018. The police swept her little tent community two years ago and uprooted everything that she knew.
The worst part was that she was very ill, finding out later she had pneumonia. Debbie and Damian came to the scene and got her the hospital care she needed. Eventually the LOVE van scooped her up and got her into this tiny house in Georgetown Nickelsville so she could stay warm and rest in a bed. She has been here for two years and is very grateful for that.
Becca has seven kids and 14 grandkids!
She has lived in Tennessee, Detroit back in the 60's, Apache Junction AZ, and Seattle. Although she is 56 years old, she has the spirit of a young girl. She loves art and would love more art supplies. She dreams of getting a rottweiler puppy one day. She has seen several UFO's in her life and talks to ghosts regularly. She is interesting, spiritual, smart, and very sweet. She has spoken at city hall as a voice for the homeless community, and wants to do more of that.
Becca you are beautiful and loved!
Georgetown Nickelsville Village | Dawndra
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
inAWE
PLEASE MEET CHUCK:
My mom hugged & kissed us non-stop. Still does, would do anything for us, whenever, wherever. I didn't grow up with a brother but I'm blessed to have four kind, smart, and strong younger sisters, all of us within 7 yrs of age. More blessings in having two daughters and a wife, all three who've given my life more meaning and love than I could have ever imagined. I'm grateful for all the feminine wisdom in my life.
This Facebook page in a word is about LOVE. It is about loving everyone through non-judgment and acceptance. There are nearly 53K people following this page and 77% of them are women.
This is going to sound cheesy, no way for it to not, but a heartfelt THANK YOU to all the women on this planet for making important the act of nurturing and loving each other.
This is Chuck. He's not doing so well these days. His camp had been swept several times awhile back and when Ro saw his downward spiral she invited him to live in her backyard.
Let me say it again, 'She invited him to live in her backyard.'
My daughter Jenn drew up some plans for a platform and with a crew of folks build it in a day. Pallet Shelter then graciously donated one of their small enclosures for Chuck to live in.
Another person that has helped Chuck a great deal is Kim, who with her partner Dan, are BLOCK Home hosts. Last week Kim & Jenn went out to help Chuck cleanup his space, he's been unable to address basic needs. They took out bags and bags of garbage, food and waste. So much KINDNESS extended to Chuck.
I am in awe of what women do for those in need in our community. The kindness and nurturing and perseverance and grit and so much more is humbling to the point of crying.
A heartfelt THANK YOU Ro, Kim and Jenn for your constant kindness.
Beacon Hill neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness Jenn LaFreniere
rentTRAP
PLEASE MEET TERRY:
How do we define homelessness?
Is it the tents you see in the in-between spaces? The man with a beard at the freeway off-ramp flying a sign, or the woman sitting in an alley with a blanket wrapped around her?
Yes. And more. LOTS MORE. Homelessness includes the 'un-sheltered" and "sheltered", the 'seen' and 'un-seen'.
Un-sheltered: An individual or family whose primary residence is a public/private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
Sheltered: An individual or family living in a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangement.
But there is more. LOTS MORE. There's a frightening number of people struggling with rent, an increasing population in a vulnerable process of negotiating how not to be evicted. The stress of living day to day with this is also homelessness.
Terry is 43 yrs old, graduated from Garfield High School. He loves everybody, smiles easily. He loves bowling too! Basically Terry is as nice as the day is long!
He currently works at the Dollar Store, makes up to $1,300 a month when healthy. That's the problem. He has a host of health issues, right now it is his kidneys. He just had a biopsy done, awaiting the results.
Terry rents a 10x12 room, pays $650 a month. Months back he was in a room with no window but the doctor wrote a note, saying he needed one due to his asthma. The landlord moved him to a room with a window.
Terry is behind in his rent, several months. He is stressed out to the maximum. Hoping we can help him cover one month.
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4H6D4BYWCQ9QU&source=url
TRUTH: It's not right that so many among us are spending their life energy just trying to find stable housing.
White Center neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
selflessMOM
PLEASE MEET OURAYA:
When Ouraya, her husband, and daughter arrived in Seattle this last June from Selma, Alabama they thought they were coming to what was promised help, that didn't happen. They lived four months in their car until it was broken into and everything stolen, including all of their identification.
Ouraya was able to get a job as a Medical Receptionist at a small clinic where she works full-time. I asked how she got a job without ID, she said, "I'm a good person, I guess my personality." She's also a hard worker, going to school on-line at night, studying to be a medical coder.
Now the three of them and Ouraya's brother-in-law and mother-in-law all live in a hotel. Between Ouraya's wages and her mother-in-law's income, who works at Walmart, they barely make it month to month.
They are hoping to get into an apartment but first, last, and damage deposit is just beyond their reach. Let's raise $1,600 for a month's rent and help them move forward. It would be a game-changer for them!
UPDATE: The Paypal link has been pulled in that our goal of raising $3,200, two months rent, has been reached with $4,256.34 donated, wowWOW!!! I already know this is a life-changer moment for this family! So much gratitude!!! All the funds will be paid directly to the new landlord. No funds go to Ouraya or family directly and, as is always the case, no funds at all go to Facing Homelessness. THANKS SO VERY MUCH!!!
I asked Ouraya what she loves most about herself. She told me most of her life she's been picked on, that she had to find a best friend to survive. She said, "I learned to really like myself. I'm my best friend."
I asked Ouraya what she loves most about her daughter. She instantly said she loves how happy her daughter is. Then she paused and began to cry, saying "She just doesn't know how hard things are, how I do all my crying early in the morning before she gets up."
Auburn neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness #Kindness
thisWOMAN
PLEASE MEET CAROLIN:
For those of you that already know Carolin Messier, the owner of the veryVERY successful 'The Harvest Vine' in Madison Valley, you already know what I am going to say.
This woman is beyond beautiful!!! Her heart is genuine and open. Her desire to create community, one that includes everyone, is relentless and inspirational! She is LOVE.
For over 20 years Carolin has been baking tarts and giving them to friends and patrons of The Harvest Vine. Four years ago she decided should would begin selling them and give all of the proceeds to Facing Homelessness to help our friends struggling outside.
Last year Carolin and friends made and sold 308 tarts during this time of year for a total of $11,000.00, all of which she donated to Facing Homelessness. She wants to help those in need.
ATTENTION: This year Carolin is hoping to sell 350 tarts! Please help her reach her goal by ordering your holiday tarts right here!!! Get-em while you can!
https://www.harvestvine.com/shop - see Tarta De Musica!
NOTE: For all you LOVERS out there, I would suggest a special night out having a superb meal at The Harvest Vine with the love of your life!
We loveLOVE you Carolin! Thank you for creating the kind beautiful world we all want to live in!
Madison Valley neighborhood | Rex
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#JustSayHello #Kindness #FacingHomelessness #TheHarvestVine
withandWITHOUT
PLEASE MEET COLE:
Another rainy Seattle afternoon. Another industrial street. Another panorama of political and social failure. There’s a line of dilapidated RVs, tents, and tarps. Left-behinds of the Great Society. There’s graffiti and city evacuation notices. Anxiety and an upcoming sweep. Trucks blast by inches from the troubled tents and tarps. Generators drone. The mud plank walkways always lead to the dark backside entrance. By the blackberry bushes, chain-links, and razor wire. An outsider’s welcomeness here is quickly discerned. All routine, except for Cole. We’d never met. I knocked on the door.
Cole is 25. A Washington native, born to abusive parents. An alcoholic mother. Cole was taken into foster care at age 6. His home would change constantly until age 18. He hated it. The tall fit young man opened the RV door, crouching as he stepped out. Soft spoken but confident, our conversation started awkwardly. “I’m a generous and kind man. People take advantage of that. I’ll fight if I have too. But I’m not a fighter.” At age 7 his caregivers believed he was possessed by spirits. An exorcism was performed. “To this day I am horrified of things like ghosts or scary movies.” Cole doesn’t smile much. But his spirit is warm. His words are from within. Cole is a spiritual man. Our conversation moved from awkward to comforting. Cole’s voice is soft. His words thoughtful. His eyes clear and honest. Cole is a gentle man.
Cole and his partner were expecting a child when he began a jail sentence. The anticipation of being a father provided Cole with purpose and optimism. Perhaps, for the first time, he saw a path forward. Upon his release, he learned that a child was no longer in his future. This drove Cole into deeper depression. He began using meth and heroin. “I began doing things I shouldn’t have.” With no family or community support, his situation worsened. Cole became homeless. Cole has been clean from heroin for 3 years but still struggles with meth. He left a treatment program early due to a bone infection which still needs major surgery. He wants to work. To live a normal life. His bone surgery will require months of recovery. He wants to resume treatment. “I sincerely try to move forward. Something always sets me back.“ As I left, a large rat hopped from a nearby baby stroller.
Cole is temporarily living with friends in their RV, a situation which needs to change. Cole is a big guy and could use a 6 person tent to accommodate his bike and belongings. If you can help, please dropOFF or shipTO: Facing Homelessness c/o Cole, 4001 9th Ave NE, Seattle WA 98105.
Georgetown neighborhood | Damian
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you're moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the 'donate' button and consider a "monthly recurring" donation of just $5 in support of the work. THANK YOU!
#Kindness #JustSayHello #FacingHomelessness
thankYOU
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU to the 386 people that donated a total of $175,501.00, making our 2020 work possible, wowWOW!!
THANK YOU for supporting and seeing the beauty of person in the over 12K homeless in King County, over 8K in Seattle!
THANK YOU to every person that is outside struggling for the courage and kindness you show us daily!
THANK YOU for believing in Facing Homelessness and the core-beliefs we hold essential to our mission!
THANK YOU for all the very kind comments during this fundraiser! I hope you know how important they are to us.
THANK YOU for believing in Seattle even when other voices cry out that Seattle is Dying!
THANK YOU to the Facing Homelessness staff and board who believe in ending homelessness with their whole hearts!
THANK YOU to everyone that steps out of their comfort zone to 'Just Say Hello' to those struggling!
THANK YOU to the endless stream of people that go about their day sharing kindness, acts that often go unseen!
THANK YOU to all the volunteers that breathe beautiful life into our programs and make possible our successes!
THANK YOU to all those that provide care to those suffering from mental health issues, your work is beyond beautiful!
THANK YOU to all those that have met asks for those in need over the years on this page, answering with $300K donated.
THANK YOU to the Host Families of the BLOCK Project, you all are showing us the true meaning of putting others first!
The list of reasons to say THANK YOU is long and our feelings of GRATITUDE so very deep. Maybe most important to us, on a daily basis, is your believing in the work we do.
Your believing sends a message of LOVE and HOPE to all those suffering, there is nothing more important.
THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff & board!!!
somethingBEAUTIFUL
DO YOU WANT TO HEAR SOMETHING VERY BEAUTIFUL?:
ONE LAST PUSH to reach our FUNDRAISING GOAL of $175,000.00 for our 2020 Budget!
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
The painted sign behind the Facing Homelessness staff reads, "Do you want to hear something very beautiful?"
Every single day in the Facing Homelessness office this question has us smiling. It is a smile of deep gratitude for all the beauty we get to experience in each person that we are coming into relationship with.
A beauty that comes from genuine kindness offered freely by those struggling outside and those comfortable inside wanting to connect and make a difference.
Today we answer the question, "Do you want to hear something very beautiful?", by letting you know that it is YOU. You are what is so beautiful! You have made this journey possible with the support and love you give. You are creating the change we all want to see!
THANK YOU so veryVERY MUCH!!
Our last ask for this END OF YEAR FUNDRAISER is to raise the final $25K. If we do this, we reach our goal and are ready for another year of creating profound positive change in our community for everyone, wowWOW!!!
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
A heartfelt community size THANK YOU from all of us at the Facing Homelessness staff and board!!!
endHOMELESSNESS
TOGETHER WE CAN AND MUST END HOMELESSNESS:
On day 7 of our week long fundraiser we share a coreBELIEF that makes this all possible.
"TOGETHER we can and must end homelessness."
We begin by seeing that this is not just a homelessness crisis but also a community crisis. When we say homelessness crisis we talk about those people over there, but when we talk about a community crisis, we must include ourselves.
"TOGETHER we can and must end homelessness."
This Facebook page has been sharing the beauty of our neighbors on the streets for over 9 years now. With sensitivity, trust, and love there have been countless exchanges of empathy, tears, laughter, growth and friendship.
With all of you we are building the foundation for ending homelessness, one relationship at a time.
During that time every single ASK made for those in need has been met by YOU. Take a moment to realize how beautiful that is. Each time a person in crisis has reached out you have been there with nearly $300K donated in funds to meet specific needs. Also, countless items that include tents, tarps, clothing, musical instruments and more have been donated and delivered to our office and then given lovingly to the person that asked for it.
The tears of joy and hope created within those you have helped is beyond measure. It is a big deal what all you have done to help the most vulnerable in our community.
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
If you are reading this please donate. It is that simple. We need you now to help us continue the work of this page, of our 'Just Say Hello' campaign, the 'Window of Kindness', the 'Community CleanUPs', and the 'BLOCK Project!'
Take a moment if you will to read back through the posts of the previous six days and ask if this is something you want more of in your community.
PEACE and THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board.
comeCLOSER
THE CLOSER YOU COME THE MORE YOU FEEL, AND THE MORE YOU FEEL, THE MORE YOU ACT:
Today we share a sixth coreBELIEF. One that is a call to our higher and better self in the face of suffering.
"The closer you come to those in need the more you FEEL, and the more you feel, the more you ACT."
When we view homelessness from across the street our questions are from the head. We look for understanding and meaning through information. "Why does he have all that garbage?" or,"Does he use drugs?" Maybe the most important, "Am I safe."
But when we cross the street to come closer our questions evolve. They begin to include the heart. "Are you okay?", "Can I ask what your name is?" Maybe the most important, "Can I be of some service to you?"
In these moments, of coming closer to each other, we find meaning in the human connection. We learn to believe that the closer we come, the more we feel, and the more we feel, the more we act on our higher and better self.
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
This is Ronnie, he's lived homelessness in Ballard nearly his entire life. I can not even begin to list the amount of pain he has endured, a list that includes his 20 year daughter being killed in a head-on-collision on I-5 by a drunk driver. It took Ronnie two years before he could say her name.
Every person experiencing homelessness is suffering. We won't know that until we come closer to feel it. This is what we humans are meant to do for each other.
THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board.
*Right now we have a $75K matching donation, please donate now and double your dollars!!!
allBEAUTIFUL
WE ARE ALL BEAUTIFUL:
Today we share a fifth coreBELIEF. One that reminds us in the face of homelessness to always see the person.
"We are all BEAUTIFUL"
Every single human being is born beautiful and remains so their entire life. But stuff happens to each of us. Often early on. Layers of this stuff build up. Layers of joy, love, fulfillment, purpose but also hurt, anxiety, fear, separation and more. We become complex quickly with all our layers.
And then we are asked to live together.
Let's be honest. With our differing layers, it is not easy. And maybe it's not supposed to be easy. Maybe that is what makes it so worthwhile, so important. This meaningful journey of coming together begins by believing we all are BEAUTIFUL.
This is Randy Woman Dress Bill, of the Lakota Sioux Nation. He was born beautiful and remains beautiful to this very day. Like all of us, Randy has many layers, one of which includes homelessness. But if that is the only layer you see, you will have missed how incredible this man is.
"We are all BEAUTIFUL."
If you believe in the beauty of our multi-layered complexities and differences, and that these layers are what make us a vibrant community, then please support the work of Facing Homelessness. Because we believe this!!
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board!
*Right now we have a $75K matching donation, please donate now and double your dollars!!!
toSUFFER
NOBODY CHOOSES TO SUFFER:
Today we share a fourth coreBELIEF. One that challenges the negative stereotype that people choose to be homeless.
"Nobody chooses to suffer."
Nobody chooses to suffer, nobody chooses to be cold, alone, sick, hungry or invisible. This is what homelessness is and clearly nobody chooses that.
In every nano-second of every day we humans make choices one after the other. All of them are what we believe to be the best for us in that moment. Every single person does this, homed or homeless. Blue shirt or red shirt today, coffee or juice, workout or relax, it is non-stop.
When life is good, the options are endless. For those struggling the options simply don't exist. A 16 yr old being sexually abused at home. Homelessness is not a choice, it is survival.
When a friend is struggling we ask, "What's wrong, are you okay, can I do something to help?" Why is it so difficult to extend this same compassion to the homeless? Do we think they don't hurt, or they deserve this suffering?
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
James has been homeless since he was 15, he's now 54 years old trying to survive. Living illiterate and begging on the streets is all he knows.
ASK Blair Jordan, a young woman that befriended James, what she knows. She knows James is kind and funny. She knows too that he is struggling horribly. Blair knows these things because she has become his friend.
This is the work of Facing Homelessness. To bring everyone into friendship with each other so that we can be there for one another, whether laughing or crying. We need each other.
THANK YOU from the Facing Homelessness staff and board!
https://www.classy.org/campaign/2019-end-of-year-campaign-or-facing-homelessness/c256387
*Right now we have a $75K matching donation, please donate now and double your dollars!!!